5 Best Credit Cards With Lounge Access

Long layovers, crowded terminals, and overpriced airport food; sound familiar? With the right credit card, you can swap those headaches for comfortable airport lounges offering free food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and even showers.

But not every travel card includes lounge benefits, and some are worth the annual fee more than others. In this guide, we’ll break down the five best credit cards with lounge access in 2025, what each one offers, and how to decide which is right for you.

1. The Platinum Card® from American Express

• Annual Fee: $695
• Lounge Access:
  • Amex Centurion Lounges (premium)
  • Priority Pass Select (enrollment required)
  • Delta Sky Club (when flying Delta)
• Other Perks: $200 airline fee credit, $200 hotel credit, elite status with Hilton and Marriott.

Why It’s Great: This card tops the list for frequent travelers thanks to its unmatched lounge network. If you value comfort on every trip, this card delivers.

>> More: Definitive Guide to American Express Credit Cards 

2. Chase Sapphire Reserve®

• Annual Fee: $550
• Lounge Access: Priority Pass Select
• Other Perks: $300 annual travel credit, 3X points on travel and dining, luxury hotel perks.

Why It’s Great: Chase Sapphire Reserve® combines lounge access with flexible travel rewards through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. Perfect for travelers who value redemption options.

>> More: Chase Sapphire Reserve® Overhaul: $795 Fee Starts June 23, 2025

3. Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

• Annual Fee: $395
• Lounge Access:
  • Capital One Lounges
  • Priority Pass Select
• Other Perks: 10X miles on hotels/rentals via Capital One Travel, 2X on all other purchases.

Why It’s Great: At a lower annual fee, Venture X gives premium lounge access plus easy-to-earn miles. A smart pick if you want luxury travel without the sky-high fee.

>> More: Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card [2025 Review]

4. Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®

• Annual Fee: $595
• Lounge Access: Admirals Club membership (for cardholder + authorized users).
• Other Perks: First checked bag free, priority boarding, 2X miles on American Airlines purchases.

Why It’s Great: Best choice for loyal American Airlines flyers, the Admirals Club membership alone offsets the annual fee if you fly often.

5. United Club℠ Infinite Card

• Annual Fee: $525
• Lounge Access: United Club membership (cardholder + eligible guests).
• Other Perks: 4X miles on United purchases, 2X on dining and travel, free first and second checked bags.

Why It’s Great: For frequent United flyers, this card is the fast track to lounge luxury and extra perks like free checked bags and priority boarding.

Lounge Access Benefits Comparison Table

How to Choose the Best Airport Lounge Access Credit Cards

With so many premium travel cards offering lounge perks, the best choice comes down to your personal travel habits. Here are a few things to keep in mind before applying:

1. Your Airline Loyalty

If you usually fly with one airline, a co-branded credit card could be the smarter pick. For example:

• Delta flyers may get more value from the Platinum Card® (Amex Centurion + Delta Sky Club® access).
• United travelers will find the United Club℠ Card most rewarding.
• American Airlines fans get the Admirals Club® membership with the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard®.

A co-branded card often unlocks not just lounge access, but also free checked bags, priority boarding, and faster elite status.

2. How Often You Travel

If you only fly once or twice a year, a high-fee premium card may not be worth it. On the other hand, frequent flyers who spend hours in airports can recoup the annual fee in comfort and convenience within just a few trips. Consider how much time you actually spend traveling and whether lounges would make those experiences better.

3. Annual Fee vs. Perks

Most cards with lounge access have annual fees ranging from $395 to $695. But when you add up the value of food, drinks, Wi-Fi, and guest passes, a single trip can save you $50–$100 or more. Add in perks like travel credits, statement credits, and insurance coverage, and the card often pays for itself quickly.

4. Flexibility vs. Exclusivity

Not all lounge programs are created equal. Priority Pass™ gives you access to hundreds of lounges worldwide, but some are smaller or more crowded. Proprietary lounges like Amex Centurion or Capital One Lounges are more exclusive and usually offer better food, drinks, and amenities. Decide whether you’d rather have broader access or higher quality.

Bottom Line

Traveling is stressful enough without adding crowded gates and overpriced food into the mix. That’s why having lounge access through the right credit card feels less like a luxury and more like a smart travel upgrade.

The best card for you isn’t necessarily the one with the longest list of perks, it’s the one that fits the way you actually travel. Maybe that’s sticking with your favorite airline’s lounge, or maybe it’s choosing a flexible card that gets you into almost any airport around the world.

If you fly often, the comfort, time saved, and small luxuries really do add up. And if you only take a couple of trips each year? That quiet moment with a coffee before boarding might be worth it all by itself.

FAQs About the Best Credit Cards With Lounge Access